Are you caregiving for someone who takes medications? Have you ever wondered if each of their medications is still right for them? Medications can offer significant benefits, but as we age, our bodies may become more sensitive to their effects. Some medications that were once helpful might no longer be necessary or could even cause harm.

Join us for an informative session hosted by the Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network. This session will provide valuable insights and practical tips to help you ensure that your care recipient’s medications are still needed and beneficial.

In this presentation, we will explore:

• How aging can increase sensitivity to medications
• The importance of regular “medication check-ups”, and how to collaborate with healthcare professionals to prevent harmful side effects
• Essential questions to ask about your care recipient’s medication

The Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network is a collaborative group of individuals with lived experience, clinicians, educators, policymakers, and researchers. They work together to create, share, and apply information that promotes the safe and appropriate use of medications for all Canadians.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in this webinar is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your care recipient’s medications.

Ageism is one of society’s most ingrained prejudices, affecting not only how we view older adults but how we see ourselves as we age.

For caregivers, understanding the impact of ageism is crucial in providing the best care and promoting well-being for those you support. This webinar will explore the power of language, attitude, and belief in shaping how we age. Learn how adopting positive age beliefs can increase longevity, enhance quality of life, and change the trajectory for both caregivers and care recipient.

By shifting the narrative and challenging harmful stereotypes, you can help instill a deep sense of value and respect in yourself and those you care for. Join us in creating a future where aging is embraced, not feared.

Our speaker: Jenna Wickens is the MatureMinds Coordinator at CFS Counseling & Wellbeing, where she provides advocacy, education, programs, volunteer opportunities, and community resource consultation for older adults. As a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging, Jenna is dedicated to raising awareness and ensuring that “growing old” is viewed as an opportunity rather than a liability.

As a caregiver, you may be caring for someone with osteoarthritis, or you may have been personally diagnosed with the condition. In either case, it’s important to understand the kind of care you can expect from your clinicians. Quality standards are essential for both patients and caregivers to know what to anticipate in their care.

In this webinar, the OCO welcomes back Ontario Health to discuss the updated quality standard for osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, hand, or shoulder, providing you with valuable information, tools, and resources.

Please join us to learn about:

• Ontario Health’s updated “Osteoarthritis: Care for Adults With Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Hip, Hand, or Shoulder” quality standard and patient guide
• Key quality statements that can enhance care for people with osteoarthritis and their caregivers in the community
• Programs, tools, and resources for caregivers to support people with osteoarthritis
• Caregiver resources presented by Arthritis Society Canada, along with other caregivers’ experiences

A newly designed SCALE program is being launched this Fall. Register now to get new content and resources!
The SCALE Program aims to empower caregivers with practical information and skills to focus on their mental health and well-being needs by offering:
• Weekly psychoeducational webinars (LIVE or RECORDED) that acknowledge and unpack difficult caregiving emotions. You may register for all or individual webinars to suit your needs.
• Strategies, tools, and resources to better cope with difficult caregiving emotions and reflect on your own caregiving experience.
• Free and confidential online group and/or individual counselling (OPTIONAL). *Space is limited. Registration is based on a first-come, firstserved basis. You will need to watch the live or recorded webinars to receive the maximum benefit from group or individual counselling.
Seeing this past OCTOBER 8th, 2024?
You can still sign-up for any of the remaining live webinars!
October 8th to November 26th, 2024
(Tuesdays from 12pm to 1pm ET)
Week 1: “I feel burned out”: Resetting within our Caregiving Journey
Week 2: “I feel like I am not doing enough”: Challenging Feelings of Guilt and Failure
Week 3: “I feel overwhelmed”: Managing Caregiving Stress through the Power of Noticing
Week 4: “I don’t know how to change things”: Navigating Grief and Helplessness in Caregiving Relationships
Week 5: “I feel angry and resentful”: Navigating Difficult Emotions within Caregiving Relationships
Week 6: “Who am I aside from a caregiver?”: Rediscovering Yourself by Embracing Self-Compassion
Week 7: “I feel like nobody appreciates me”: Setting Boundaries within the Caregiver Relationship
Week 8: “I feel alone”: Creating Meaningful Connections

Quality standards are important for patients and their caregivers to know what to expect in their care. Caregivers of individuals with Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary Disease (COPD) need to have access to information, tools, and resources to help manage the challenges associated with COPD. In recognition of COPD Awareness Month in November, join us to learn about:
• the updated Ontario Health COPD quality standard and patient guide
• key quality statements that can enhance care for people with COPD and their caregivers in the community
• programs, tools, and resources for caregivers to support people with COPD
• other caregivers’ experiences
Our Speakers:
Gracia Mabaya is a Lead in the Clinical and Quality Standards Program at Ontario Health. Having dedicated nearly eight years to Ontario Health, she has
spearheaded and contributed to the development and refinement of quality standards across various health conditions, including the recent update of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Care in the Community for Adults quality standard.
Julie M. Skelding is a Senior Specialist, Quality Improvement, Ontario Health and masters prepared nurse with experience in quality improvement, change
management and most recently the implementation of a province-wide COPD initiative. Julie’s clinical experience in primary care, mental health, and sleep medicine gives her a deep understanding of health care services to improve patient care and support staff in change management to enable system transformation.

Feeling stressful and overwhelmed by the holiday season is a common experience for many caregivers. Do you face challenges during the holidays? Have
you found effective coping strategies? OCO is excited to welcome back Dr. Patrick McGrath, who will offer guidance on navigating these tough times based on questions from caregivers.
• Submit your question about caregiver stress in advance
• Gain useful tips and strategies on how to manage your emotions during the holiday season
• Learn what services or tools are available to support your mental health needs

Note: We encourage caregivers to share questions when filling out the Eventbrite registration. The OCO tries to answer as many questions as possible, but
some questions may not be answered due to time limitations.

Our Speaker:
Dr. Patrick McGrath is a clinical psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University and a scientist at the IWK Health Centre where his research is based. He is an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Ottawa. He frequently treats caregivers with anxiety in his private practice.

The Ontario Caregiver Organization (OCO) exists to improve the lives of caregivers across Ontario. At OCO, we offer a variety of free programs and services
to support many different types of caregiving needs.
Caregivers often ask:
• What type of caregiving support is available?
• What programs have caregivers found most useful for their caregiving journey?
Join us as we chat with caregivers who share their experiences with OCO programs including:
• Education supports such as OCO webinars, eLearning, and 90second Caregiver
• Peer Support such as 1:1 Peer Support, Online Caregiver Support Groups, and Young Caregiver Support
• Mental Health and Wellness programs such as SCALE program and Caregiver Coaching
• The OCO Helpline 1-833-416-2273 (CARE)

We will also demonstrate a walk-though of the OCO website so that caregivers will learn how to access, find, and register for programs.

Our Caregiver Co-host: The OCO is pleased to welcome back Ron Beleno, an experienced family caregiver who looked after his late father with Alzheimer’s for over 10+ years. Ron continues to provide support to family members and friends in need of care. He is an active advocate for dementia, caregiving, aging, and research communities.
Who should attend? If you are an unpaid caregiver (e.g., family/friend), work in the health or social services sector, or are an employer of caregivers.

Four in ten caregivers are facing financial hardship because of their caregiving responsibilities. Additionally, more caregivers are using their savings or investments to cover expenses associated with caregiving. This financial impact is one of the top reasons caregivers are feeling stressed.
In this webinar with Credit Canada, you will receive information on how to avoid bankruptcy, become debt-free, and achieve financial wellness.
We will also discuss:
• What is a good Credit Score and why is it important?
• How Credit Score works and what are the risks?
• How to access financial readiness kits for unpredictable times?
• What to do when debt becomes too much to handle on your own?

Our Speaker: Credit Canada is Canada’s first and longest-standing credit counselling agency. For more than 50 years, Credit Canada has been helping Canadians get out of debt and back into life through financial education and debt resolution. As a national, non-profit organization, Credit Canada has helped thousands become debt-free and achieve financial wellness.

Note: The webinar is intended to provide general information only.

Change can be challenging, especially for older adults and seniors who are considering transitioning into a long-term care community. This process can also be confusing and overwhelming for caregivers as they navigate a large amount of information and emotional challenges. In this webinar with Family Councils Ontario (FCO), you will receive information on supporting a positive transition to long-term care before, during, and after the move. You will also learn more about:
• Long-term care homes setting and how they operate
• How caregivers can get support from the long-term care team
• What Family Councils Ontario does and what resources are available for caregivers
• FCO’s new ‘Transition Project’ Tool, which supports caregiver knowledge experience with best practices
• Hear other caregivers’ experiences and stories

Our Speakers:
Sam Peck (she/they): Sam is the Executive Director of FCO and has been helping LTC caregivers form effective peer support groups since 2008. She is passionate about the power of peer support and helping Council members and home staff form positive and productive relationships.

Liane Pelissier (she/her): Before joining FCO as the Client Services Manager in 2021, Liane worked in LTC for over 19 years as a Resident and Family Services Coordinator, helping support residents and families as they transitioned into LTC. Liane pairs this experience with lived experience as a caregiver to support caregivers and Family Councils to improve the quality of care and the caregiver experience in LTC.

Cathleen Edwards (she/her): Cathleen brings years of experience as a post-secondary educational instructor to her role as Education Manager at FCO, creating informative and engaging educational materials for Council members and home staff. Her passion for supporting families and advocating for inclusion draws inspiration from her work as a Recreation Professional in long-term care.

Service Canada is presenting a webinar on the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which aims to remove financial barriers to accessing oral health care for eligible Canadian residents. The webinar will cover the following topics:
• Eligibility criteria
• Process for applying to the plan
• Services covered under CDCP
Caregivers will receive comprehensive information during the webinar.
Our Speaker: Service Canada provides the public with a single point of access to a wide range of government
services and benefits.
NOTE: *This webinar will NOT be recorded. We also ask that you DO NOT record this session as the information can change without notice.
The webinar is intended to provide general information only. Please call the Service Canada general inquiry line for further inquiries: 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)